A HOST of local crews made the short journey to Ludlow for the Woodpecker Stages, the event a round of BTRDA and Welsh series.

Just six stages made up the 42 competitive miles in Haye Park, Bringewood, Wigmore and the ultra-fast Radnor Forest, for the top quality entry of 175 cars.

Chepstow duo Sasha Kakad and Andrew Price took top local honours with 16th overall and fifth in class in the Westbase Technology Lancer Evo 9.

Hot on their heels were Bob Morgan/Adie Williams in the Winner Garage Skoda Fabia. After a slow start on the opening two tests, Morgan pushed hard on the next four to finish 19th and seventh in class.

There was last stage heartache for Mark Griffiths/Will Rogers in the Griffiths Engineering Escort RS.

Having led the class all day in the drying conditions, the last stage was bone dry and the more powerful Escorts passed him and he dropped from first in class to third and 24th overall with only five seconds covering the top three class contenders.